WASHINGTON, Pa. — The Mars baseball team’s memorable season will include a trip to the state playoffs.

Dylan Rotz allowed just one run on seven hits in the Planets’ 3-1 win over rival Knoch in the WPIAL Class AAA consolation game Wednesday night at Washington & Jefferson College’s Ross Memorial Park.

Earlier this season, Mars secured the Section 5 title before notching the program’s first playoff victory in 18 years. Wednesday’s triumph earns for the Planets a PIAA playoff berth for the first time since 1995.

“To be the pitcher who helps the team get to states, it’s awesome,” said Rotz. “It’s a great group of guys and hopefully, we can continue this run.”

Knoch did manage at least one hit every inning from the first through the fifth, but had just one run to show for it.

Rotz, now working with a 3-1 lead, pitched a 1-2-3 sixth frame before allowing Logan Hickey to lead off the seventh with a single.

The next batter, Dylan Swarmer, hit a groundball back to Rotz, who turned and fired to shortstop Anthony Michalski at second base. Rotz’s throw was high, but Michalski jumped and caught the ball, landed on the bag for one out and threw on to first baseman David Anderson to complete the 1-6-3 double play.

“If that ball gets through, Hickey gets to third base and who knows what happens,” said Knoch coach George Bradley. “The shortstop made a great play. Mars had a few more key hits than we did.”

Andy Pipes then flied out to end the game and the Knights’ season.

Rotz was very efficient, striking out three and not walking a batter. His previous outing on the mound was a two-hit shutout in a 3-0 district quarterfinal victory against Hopewell May 19.

“He now has three straight complete games with under 85 pitches,” said Mars coach Andy Bednar. “He doesn’t walk anybody, can throw his breaking ball for strikes and the defense seems to play very well behind him. We had him throw a bullpen session (last week) just to keep his routine going.”

“Knoch has a great group of hitters and they’re a force to be reckoned with,” Rotz said. “I just rely on my teammates to make plays behind me.”

Mars took an early lead with an unearned run in the top of the first. The Knights answered with Alex Stobert’s sacrifice fly that scored Dominick Bucko in the bottom of the inning.

But against Knight starter Jeremy Frazier, the Planets plated single tallies in the third and fifth.

The first of those saw Brandon Wetherholt lead off the third with an infield single. He moved to second when Jack Anderson drew a one-out walk and scored on David Anderson’s base hit.

Wetherholt also scored the game’s final run. He singled to start the fifth, advanced to second on Zarek Simkovich’s sacrifice bunt and to third when Jack Anderson grounded out. Wetherholt then scored on a wild pitch.

Wetherholt joined Knoch’s Mike McCarty as the only players in the game with multiple hits.

“He (Wetherholt) has been our leadoff hitter all year,” said Bednar. “He gets pitches to hit and is batting about .360.”

Frazier lasted six innings before being relieved by Stobert to start the top of the seventh. The former had two strikeouts and walked a pair, while allowing the three runs, two of them earned.

“I thought he did very well,” Bradley said. “It was very hot and humid out here tonight. I was going to pull him after five innings, but he had a little bit left.”

The Planets (15-6) will play the winner of today’s District 10 championship game between Cathedral Prep and Fort LeBoeuf on Monday in the first round of the PIAA playoffs.

Knoch (14-8) was the defending WPIAL and PIAA champion entering the season.

“It’s tough to repeat,” said Bradley. “We don’t like losing, but we’ve now made the playoffs five straight years. It’s a tribute to the kids, the community and my coaches.”

Mars 101 010 0 — 3 8 0

Knoch 100 000 0 — 1 7 3

W: Dylan Rotz 7 IP (3K, 0BB). L: Jeremy Frazier 6 IP (2K, 2BB).

Mars (15-6): Brandon Wetherholt 2-1B 2R, Zarek Simkovich 1B R, Jack Anderson 1B, David Anderson 1B RBI, Anthony Michalski 2B, Eli Brooks 1B, Isaiah Johnson 1B

Knoch (14-8): Dominick Bucko 1B R, Mike McCarty 2-1B, P.J. Gourley 1B, Alex Stobert RBI, Nick Guercio 1B, Logan Hickey 1B, Dylan Swarmer 1B

Monday: Mars vs. Cathedral Prep/Fort LeBoeuf winner, PIAA Class AAA first-round playoff, TBD